Hand tool



Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,306

w. A. BERNARD HAND TOOL Filed March 14, 1925 Patented Jan. 29, 1929.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. BERNARD, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORTO THE WILLIAM SCHOLLHORN COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

HAND TOOL.

Application filed March This application relates to hand tools, and more especially to a tool ofthis character designed for use in horticultural work, to which the name pruning shears is commonly applied, although it will be understood that while the jaws of the tool shown are particularly adaptedfor the work specified, the novel principles embodied in the invention may be applied to hand tools provided with working jaws of a different character and adapted for other work. That is to say, the broad principles of my invention may be embodied in such hand tools, for example, as pliers, tinners shears, wire cutters or the like, as well as pruning shears.

One object of the invention is to provide a tool of this character whereby a considerable leverage may be brought to bear upon the aws of the tool to perform the required work, and at the same time, the jaws of thetool are so arranged that the maximum opening of these jaws is obtained upon a relatively small opening movement of the handles. That is, notwithstanding the fact that the jaws have a relatively wide spread when in open position, the handles are not moved apart to such an extent that theymay not be easily accommodated within the hand of the operator and operated by the fingers of one hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of this character which shall be simple in construction, efficient in operation, and as economical to manufacture as is consistent with the quality of the tool and the character of thework required thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tool of this character, constructed in such a manner that the blades may be readily removed from the tool for the purpose of being sharpened.

Still another object of the-invention is to provide an improved type of spring for a tool of this character which shall be mounted so that it will not interfere with any of the operating parts of the tool and will, at the same time, exert suflicient force to normally urge the handles to extended or open position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved locking means to hold the tool in closed position against the tension of the spring. r

' To these and other ends the invention con- 14, 1925. Serial No. 15,521.

'sists in the novel features and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge or plan view of the same;

Fig. '3 is a front view looking directly at the point of the jaws; I Fig. 4.- is a side elevational viewv of the jaws 1n open position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, from the opposite side of the tool, with some of the parts omitted from the sake of clearness, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 4.

The preferred embodiment of my invention which I have selected to illustrate and describe, comprises a pair of handles 10 and 11, generally U-shaped in cross section and pivoted upon the pin 12 for the usual opening and closing movements. Adjacent the pivot, the web portion of each of the U-shaped handles is cut away so that the forward end of each of these members comprises a pair of spaced arms through which the pivot pin 12 passes, the arms 13 and ltof the handle member 11 being boxed between the arms 15 and 16 of the member 10. As shown in Fig. 2, outer members 15 and 16 are offset forwardly of the pivot point, as shown at 17 and 18 so that the forward ends 19 and 20 of these arms will lie closely together and closely adjacent to the side faces of one of the operating jaws 21, which is the form of my invention shown in the drawing, is the shearing aw and is pivoted to these arms at 22.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the forwardly projecting arm 14 of the handle member 11 is substantially straight, while its cooperating member 13 is ofiset at 24 so that the forward ends 25 and 26 ofthese members lie closely adjacent to the cooperating or cutting blade 27, theadjacent surfaces of this blade and the shearing blade 21 lying closely together.

The blade 27 is pivoted to the members 25 and 26 by the pivot pin 28, this pin and the pin 22 preferably being threaded to receive the nuts 23 and 29 so that when these nuts are removed the pins may be withdrawn and the jaws removed from the tool.

The jaws are pivoted together adjacent their rear ends by means or the pin 30, which is secured in the jaw 27 and rotatably reoeived in an openiin in the jaw 21, the ends of the pin being substantially flush with the jaws of the tool, as shown in 6, so that there will be no interference between this pin and the handle members during the operation of the tool.

The rear ends or the aws are slightly recessed, as shown at 32and 33, in Fig. 5, so as to clear the pivot pin 12. A recess 3% is provided in one'of the jaws or blades oi the tool and terminates in shoulders 35 and 36 with which cooperate a stop screw 87, set in the other jaw, to limit the opening and closing movements of the jaws.

A spring 38 is wound about the pivot pin 12, the ends of the spring, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, bearing againstthe web portions of the handles. {in account of the fact that the jaws clear the pin 12 and are not p1voted upon this pin, the entire pin may be given up to the accommodation of the spring, if necessary, so that a comparatively large and strong spring may be used. A pawl 39 is pivoted at 40 upon the handle member 11, to be received in a recess 41 provided in an edge of one ofthe forwardly extending members upon the other handle to hold the tool in closed position when not in use.

It will be noted that the handles and blades are not coincidentally pivoted, the former moving about the pin 12 while the latter are pivoted about a pin 30. It will, or con so, be obvious that as the jaws move from the position in Fig. l to the position in Fig. 1, the pivot pin 30moves rearwardly to a slight extent, the rear ends of the aw members approaching the pivot pin 12. The pin 30 is, however, positioned slightly oii' center with respect to the pivots 12, 22 and 28, as shown moreparticularly in Fig. 1. This pin 30 is set closer to the pivot 28 than to-the pivot 22, so that the jaw 27 moves about a shorter radius than the jaw 21 and consequently is moved through a greater angle than the jaw 21 during a movement of the handle memhere, the pin 30 moving rearwardly during a closing movement of the jaws and also laterally with respect to the pin 12. The result'is that the cutting 'aw 27 is given a draw mg or knife movement along the shearing aw 21 in addition to the shearin or closing movement of the j aws. This uneven or differential movement of the jaws produces a more efficient cutting action than would be produced were the pin 30 set symmetrically with respect to the pins 22 and28, so to produce a like or equal movement of the parts of the tool.

Moreover the connection of, the handle I members to the aws, shown at 22 and 28, beinedis osed a oint intermediate the \.V A I 1.

length oi the jaws, enables the latter memhers to be opened to a considerable extent without requiring an excessively great opening movement or the handles by reason of which the latter may always be held in and manipulated by one hand of the operator. Further, the connection of the handles with the jaws is disposed at the point where. the greatest pressure is likely to be needed during the operation of the tool, so that this pressure may be exerted directly opposite the greatest resistance, and therefore, shearing action upon the various pivot pins will be, as taras possible, avoided.

As shown in Fig. 3, theshearing blade 21 is provided with a substantially fiat upper surface, while the cutting blade 27 is provided with a beveled or sharpened cutting edge to cooperate with the adjacent edge of the upper face of the shearing blade to accomplish the required work.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment ot'my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be "limited to the details shown but is capable-of modification and variation within the spirit of themvcntion and within the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a hand tool, a pair of pivoted handles and a pair of operating blades pivoted together and also pivoted to said handles, the point at whichsaid blades are pivoted together being unequally distant from the respective points at which the blades are pivoted to the handles.

2. In a. hand tool, a pair ofpivoted handle members, an operating jaw pivoted to each of said handle members intermediate the pivoted together and pivoted respectivelvto said jaws intermediate the length of the latter and forwardly of the point of pivot therebetween, thepivotal connection between the jaws and handle members being-unequally distant from the pivotal connection between the two jaws. c v

4. In a hand tool, a cutting jaw, a shearing jaw, a pair of pivoted handles having their ends pivoted respectively tosaid jaws intermediate the length of the latter, and means pivoting said aws together so that the movement of said handle members efiects a greater movement otthe cutting jaw than of the shearing jaw.

5. In a hand tool, a pair ofpivoted handles, a pair of operatingjaws pivotedtogether and also pivoted respectively to said handles, said jaws overlapping each other adjacent their rear ends, and the overlapping ends of said jaws being provided With cooperating means rear ends, and the overlapping ends of said to limit relative movement about the pivotal jaws being provided respectively with a stop connection therehetween. and a recess to limit the movement thereof 10 6. In a. hand tool, a pair of pivoted handles, about their pivotal connection. 5 a pair of operating jaws pivoted together and In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my also pivoted respectively to said handles, said hand this 12th day of March, 1925. jaws overlapping each other adjacent their WILLIAM A. BERNARD. 

